The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-20
Horse Sheds as a Means of Grace.

The little church was in a small
country town, and many of the men,
bers lived in the country from one to
five miles away. In fair weather the
country members usually turned out
in force, and hitched their teams to
posts, fences, trees-any where to
make them secure while the services
were in progress. In hot weather the
poor beasts suffered from the heat, and
shivered with the cold in cold wealth
er, and sometimes both horses and
carriages were thoroughly drenched
by sudden storm.
This church had called young pas
tor fresh from the seminary, and the
very first Sunday he gathered the
church officers together and addressed
them thus: Brethren, it is crime
against God and the dumb brutes to
have these horses hitched out around
the church in this way, exposed to all
sorts of weather. We must have some
horse sheds at once" "We can't af-
ford it," said deacon Blank; "my old
horse has been hitched to that old
stump almost every Sunday for fifteen
years. l guess he can stand it for a
while yet"
''Now BRETHREN" replied the preach
er, lit is not right, it is not Christian
to treat your animals in this way: a
merciful man is merciful to his
beast.'n
Before the next Sunday arrived the
pastor had made thorough canvass OF
his parish in behalf of horse sheds.
Some promised to work on the propos-
ed sheds, some gave timber, some lum-
ber, and others gave little money.
The congregation were somewhat
surprised Oh the next Sabbath to hear
the following notice read from the pull
pit: "All who are interested in the
erection of row of horse sheds are
invited to attend grand mass meet
ing at the church, commencing Mon
day tto-norrow) morning at seven
O'Clock, and continuing until the sheds
are completed. Bring spades, axes,
saws, hammers, and dinner pails.n
Al the appointed hour the pastor
was on hand with coat Off and ready
for business. The people had a mind
to work, and in one week eleven good
horse sheds We're completed and sur.
rounded by Il neat fence. The prayer
of the pastor on the following Sun.
day 1--WE thank Thee, 0 Lord, fol
horse sheds and may they be q means
OF grace to u.s." met with q hearty re-
sponse from the congregation. The
prayer was abundantly answered; fol
the congregation was more than dou
bled within q month. Many who
would not venture out to church i
they saw Il cloud in the sky as large q:
a mars hand. We're now present al
most every Sunday, often coming in ;
storm.
During the week the sheds wer,
thrown open to the public, and were
greatly appreciated by those coming {
town on business. One farmer, not
church gOer, was heard to saw as h,
drove under the sheds one rainy dav
these sheds are about the whites
things III this town. believe I'd lik,
TO hear the feller preach who pushet
this thing through" He did hca
him preach, and not many months
after became an act ve member of tn,
church. More sheds were hd!It as tn,
congregation increased, Ln:il fort,
teams could be coul:n.;ahly housed
around that ch2rr;l, and as niauy wer
often there.
Other churches in the communit,
caught the horse shed fever, anu in
short time each church had a goodl,
number of comfortable sheds.
so the horse shed enterprise provet
to be the greatest means of grace tn
churches of that place had enjoyed TO
many years.
No doubt other places would b
blessed by u similar undertaking
Try it.-Er.